[Warning: High-energy lifeform detected approaching...]

Qi Suian was in the middle of an experiment when the smart-brain’s warning suddenly flashed.

Before he could react, it swept everything into a stable Subspace Pocket and then forcefully erased all traces of his presence.

After completing these actions, it immediately took Qi Suian and fled without a moment’s hesitation.

The speed of its departure was even faster than their retreat from Ring Island.

"What’s going on?" Qi Suian asked, snapping back to his senses.

The smart-brain immediately relayed the data from its multidimensional, superluminal reconnaissance network.

It was a zombie, but not rotted like a conventional one. It looked more human, making it easy to see that it was an old man.

’He looks a little familiar... This is...’ Qi Suian racked his brain.

Before he could place the face, the smart-brain provided the answer.

[Based on model projections, there is a 90% probability that this is Chunyu Hu of the Divine Prayer Association.]

’He’s that strong?!’ Qi Suian was shocked.

After all, not a single person from the Watchman Morning Company on Ring Island had been classified by the smart-brain as a high-energy lifeform.

’As expected of someone who’s lived for a thousand years.’

"But that brings up a question—how did they live so long?" Qi Suian didn’t quite understand. "The Umbral Virus, before it was modified, probably didn’t have any life-extending properties, did it?"

Living for a thousand years was the biggest mystery.

After their successful escape, the smart-brain quickly analyzed the enemy’s trajectory.

[There is a 70% probability that its destination is the safe house area.]

’I know what he’s after.’

The moment the smart-brain said that, Qi Suian knew exactly what the enemy wanted.

It had to be the Ancient Dian Kingdom Jade Seal.

He didn’t understand. Why hadn’t he taken it earlier? Why wait until now?

The man had lived for a thousand years; he must have had plenty of opportunities, yet he never went for it.

"Let’s go, don’t let him find us." Qi Suian unhesitatingly tossed the Ancient Dian Kingdom Jade Seal into his Subspace Pocket. He usually carried it with him.

After all, the item could enhance the Umbral Virus, and carrying it strengthened the effects of his Death Potion.

Before the smart-brain could act, a tremendous roar erupted, accompanied by violent tremors.

[Safe house area is under attack. Total destruction predicted.]

It didn’t take a genius to figure out what had happened. Chunyu Hu of the Divine Prayer Association hadn’t found the Ancient Dian Kingdom Jade Seal, so he’d simply attacked.

After its report, the smart-brain naturally carried Qi Suian away at once, putting distance between them.

"At their current stage of development, can the Floating Cannons kill him in one shot?" Qi Suian asked the crucial question.

[Yes, but it is impossible to land a hit.]

[The enemy is too fast. Given the Tai Sui God’s current number of evolutions, it cannot support the rapid response required by the Floating Cannons.]

’So he can’t block it, but he can dodge it.’

’The solution is to compensate with modules, right?’ Qi Suian immediately knew what the smart-brain was going to say.

[Correct. It is currently not recommended that you engage this enemy.]

[The high-energy lifeform’s physical constitution is unknown. Converted to a level, it is most likely a Corpse King-class zombie.]

The smart-brain replied.

Drawing on his memories as a reborn individual, Qi Suian quickly recalled the power of a Corpse King-class zombie. They were roughly city-level threats.

At full power, one could destroy an entire city.

"Even you can’t detect his physical stats," Qi Suian said in disbelief.

[Based on calculations, each attribute point represents a promotion to a higher tier, resulting in exponential growth. The rate of increase is not static.]

’Then the calculation formula is wrong. Doesn’t that mean there’s a problem with my 100% boost...?’ Qi Suian had previously thought that as his base stats grew, his boost would become even stronger.

But now it seemed a 100% boost couldn’t reach such high attribute values.

[Based on the data feedback from the enemy’s physical condition, that is indeed the case.]

The smart-brain had no corresponding data before, so it couldn’t have known the rules governing attribute points out of thin air.

As for his memories as a reborn individual, his past self had been even more of a loser than he was now. How could he possibly have known these things?

This was why Qi Suian was also in the dark.

’And temporary boosts don’t grant this qualitative change. Your actual, base attribute has to reach that value to experience it.’

Take his own Spirit attribute, for example. After the 100% boost, it was close to 2 points, but to Qi Suian’s perception, it felt more like a simple quantitative increase.

There was no qualitative change whatsoever.

’A trial version and a permanent license are two completely different things.’

[It is also possible it’s an issue with the data panel. You are, after all, a violator.]

The smart-brain proposed another line of thought to Qi Suian: the problem lay with the apocalypse game, not with him.

"Then how did you calculate your attribute formula?"

"Logically, you shouldn’t have any definitive data either," Qi Suian noted, spotting a blind spot in its logic.

The smart-brain immediately listed the calculation formulas and data for Qi Suian to review.

Qi Suian had only just read two pages when the Tai Sui God suddenly accelerated.

"What’s happening?"

[The enemy has locked onto the Tai Sui God through some unknown means and is closing in.]

[Rest assured, with the flight speed of the Wind Master aeronautics system, the enemy cannot catch up for now.]

The speed of the Wind Master aeronautics system was on par with the power of the Floating Cannons.

As an SSS-class module, the Corpse King currently lacked the speed to catch up.

"Good. Lose him as fast as you can."

"If we really can’t shake him... then head for Ring Island. We’ll lead the trouble straight to them." Qi Suian was no saint.

The smart-brain understood, of course. If even the Watchman Morning Company couldn’t stop him, then the smart-brain... could actually just keep him occupied indefinitely with high-speed flight.

Energy was not a concern; the Supernova Strong Nuclear Reactor could ensure continuous power during high-speed flight.

Flying at high speed for a month wouldn’t be a problem.

The enemy certainly wouldn’t pursue them for a whole month.

"Wait, I remember zombies have special abilities, right?"

"That Chunyu Bao we killed before was a clone, but he had a spatial ability."

"If Chunyu Hu of the Divine Prayer Association also has a corresponding ability, do you have a solution?"

If the enemy possessed a spatial ability, his control over it would surely be far greater than that of the clone, Chunyu Bao.

[Please wait. The smart-brain’s recorded time is in disarray. There is a major discrepancy between the network time and local time.]

[There is a 90% probability that the enemy possesses a time-based ability, presumed to be time acceleration.]

The smart-brain’s answer made Qi Suian’s heart sink.

The next moment, a piercing alarm blared.

Behind them, Chunyu Hu was getting closer and closer.

[Evasion has failed. Prepare for combat.]

At this point, the smart-brain also understood the problem. It had thought it could escape with its SSS-class flight module, but the enemy wasn’t playing fair and had just used time acceleration.

He wasn’t just a Corpse King; he also had a time-based ability. This was an unwinnable fight.